Ms Helga-Maria Schmid, Director of the Policy Unit of the General Council Secretariat of the European Union delivered the 2009 Schuman Lecture on the topic of The European Union’s Contribution to Security in the Twenty-First Century.  View a transcript of the lecture.

The  annual  Robert  Schuman  Lecture  celebrates  the  remarkable  achievements  of  European  integration since its modest beginnings in the European Coal and Steel Community in 1951, announced in a declaration by French Foreign Minister Schuman. The Australian National University has recognised this achievement and foresight by coordinating an Annual Schuman Lecture since 1996.  The first lecture was delivered by Lord Leon Brittan, the then Vice President of the European Commission.  Since then, the University has coordinated annual Schuman Lectures by distinguished speakers, including The Right Honourable Chris Patten, CH, Commissioner for External Relations, The Right Honourable Alexander Downer, Justice Michael Kirby of the Australian High Court, Professor Sir Neil MacCormick QC FRSE FBA LLD Dlitt, and HE Ambassador Miguel Angel Moratinos.

Helga Maria Schmid, Director of the Policy and Early Warning Unit of the Council General Secretariat of the  European  Union  since  January  2006,  is  one  of the  closest  advisors  to  the  EU-High  Representative for  the  Foreign  and  Security  Policy,  Javier  Solana. Before joining Solana’s team Helga Schmid, a German diplomat, worked in the cabinets of both Foreign Ministers Klaus Kinkel and Joschka Fischer. She headed Foreign Minister Fischer’s Political Staff from 2003 until end of 2005. Ms Schmid joined the German Foreign Service in 1988. Beginning of the 90’s she worked inter alia as press and public affairs officer for the German Embassy in Washington. Ms Schmid studied English and French as well as literature, history and politics at Munich University and the Sorbonne, Paris.